Bangkit: Where the Landscape of AI Awaits Your Exploration

A Story of Neisa Hibatillah Alif, Bangkit 2023 Batch 1 Graduate from Informatics Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember

According to womenintech.co.uk, women comprise 22% of the global Artificial intelligence (AI) workforce. One of these women is Neisa Hibatillah Alif (21), from Pekanbaru, Riau, Indonesia.

This Informatics Engineering student at Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember Surabaya (ITS) was interested in this cutting-edge subject because of its job prospects. Eager to build a strong foundation in AI, Neisa–that’s what she called–sought the perfect place to hone her skills through courses and practical experience with real-time projects.

In the middle of her journey, Neisa found Bangkit, a career readiness program from Google, supported by leading tech industries such as GoTo, Tokopedia, and Traveloka. After 900 hours of learning, she gained many, from comprehensive technical skills to the confidence to pursue her dreams.

So, how was Neisa's journey of becoming one of the 22% of global female AI talent? Let’s delve into her story!

Intriguing Questions Piqued Her Curiosity About Tech

To embrace every opportunity with open arms and continuously strive for personal growth were the two guiding principles instilled by Neisa’s parents. As a lecturer and a housewife, Neisa’s father and mother raised her and her brother in Pekanbaru, Riau. Her parents’ endless support encouraged her to thrive.

Neisa grew as a high-achieving person; once she approached her final year of high school, technology sparked a fascination within her. Her curiosity for tech was ignited because of the Informatics Olympiad questions her friend made related to coding.

Intrigued to answer the question, Neisa began to envision a future where she could harness the power of technology to make a meaningful impact on others.

Fueled by her newfound passion and supported by her father, a lecturer in Informatics Engineering, Neisa set her sights on pursuing a degree in Informatics Engineering. With unwavering determination, she embarked on a journey at ITS.

“As I delved deeper into tech, I immersed myself in a world of innovation and discovery. From coding algorithms to designing software.”

With the unwavering support of her family and the invaluable guidance of her mentors, Neisa was poised to carve her path in the ever-evolving landscape of technology. From there, she became interested in Machine Learning (ML) and found her way to Bangkit.

Technically and Socially Improved Herself in Bangkit

During her college time at ITS, Neisa stumbled upon Bangkit through her classmate, who had signed up before. After researching, Neisa discovered that Bangkit had a comprehensive curriculum encompassing tech, soft skills, and English as the primary language in its modules.

What drew her further was Bangkit’s offer of free global certifications and its Machine Learning path, which aligned perfectly with her interests. Successfully being accepted in Bangkit 2023 Batch 1, Neisa keenly tackled the daily courses, attended Instructor-Led Training (ILT) sessions and weekly mentor consultations, and completed many assignments.

Interacting with mentors, instructors, and cohorts from another learning path honed Neisa’s communication skills and expanded her network. As the program neared its end, she collaborated seamlessly with her peers to foster strong teamwork. However, she also found some challenges, such as balancing time between lectures on campus and online classes.

After all, Neisa found joy in Bangkit. She felt grateful for the enriching learning journey, with access to quality courses and the chance to attain the TensorFlow Developer (TFD) certification. Through Bangkit, Neisa deepened her technical knowledge and honed her adaptability, time management, and discipline.

“ILT sessions, weekly consultations, and capstone projects further enhanced my public speaking and collaboration skills.”

While aware of gender disparity in tech, Neisa’s journey with Bangkit has mainly been supportive. Thanks to the encouragement of her mentors and fellow cohorts. Then, she was more than prepared to dive headfirst into tech and kickstart her career in AI.

Kickstarting Career as an AI Researcher

After Bangkit, Neisa was in her final year at ITS. Thanks to the information about the intern opportunity at the Bank BRI shared by her department, she could embark on her intern journey at the well-known state-owned bank. Discovering that the requirements matched her background, she mustered the courage to apply.

“After following administrative screening and interviews, I was grateful to secure an internship position at Bank BRI as an AI Researcher.”

As an intern, Neisa focused on AI research, particularly in computer vision and prompt engineering. Upon identifying workplace issues, she delved into studies and literature reviews, implementing her findings using Python.

“I leveraged the Python skills I gained during my early days in Bangkit in my daily work. Moreover, soft skills such as crafting a strong CV, navigating interviews, honing communication skills, and fostering effective teamwork also impacted my recruitment process.”

When asked how artificial intelligence (AI) has shaped the world of technology, Neisa agreed that the demand for AI will continue to soar due to its efficiency. However, AI remains intertwined with human involvement as there is still much room for development.

“Human intervention is crucial in enhancing AI capabilities and ensuring system maintenance. Therefore, opportunities for careers in AI and Machine Learning remain abundant.”

Neisa admitted that everyone must seize the opportunity to develop their tech and soft skills in programs like Bangkit. As she said, Bangkit provided ample support in tech learning, soft skills development, and English proficiency, as well as a productive and supportive environment.

“Particularly in the Machine Learning path, mastering the basics of Python is crucial as it is highly applicable in the workforce, especially in roles related to AI and ML.”

To end the interview, she encouraged everyone who wants to expand their tech knowledge and skills to join Bangkit. “There, the landscape of AI awaits your exploration.”

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